Joe Root Surpasses Tendulkar & Dravid To Set New Test Cricket Milestone

Joe Root continues to redefine greatness in Test cricket. On Thursday, during England's four-day Test against Zimbabwe, the former captain reached a monumental milestone.

Joe Root continues to redefine greatness in Test cricket. On Thursday, during England's four-day Test against Zimbabwe, the former captain reached a monumental milestone.

Joe Root became the fastest player to score 13,000 Test runs in terms of matches played. He achieved the feat during his knock of 34, reaching the landmark in just 153 matches, surpassing Jacques Kallis (159), Rahul Dravid (160), and Sachin Tendulkar (163).

Fastest to 13,000 Test Runs (by Matches): Joe Root – 153*, Jacques Kallis – 159, Rahul Dravid – 160, Ricky Ponting – 162, Sachin Tendulkar – 163.

However, when measured by innings, Root took 279 innings to reach the mark - the slowest among the elite group. Tendulkar (266 innings) remains the fastest in that regard, followed by Kallis (269), Ponting (275), and Dravid (277).

Fastest to 13,000 Test Runs (by Innings): Sachin Tendulkar – 266, Jacques Kallis – 269, Ricky Ponting – 275, Rahul Dravid – 277, Joe Root – 279*.

Despite that, Root's consistency and longevity are unquestionable. He now has 13,006 runs at an average of 50.8, including 36 centuries and 65 half-centuries. He is also the leading run-scorer in ICC World Test Championship (WTC) history.

Root's return to form couldn't have come at a worse time for Team India, who begin their five-match Test series in England on June 20 at Headingley — Root’s home ground.